TEL AVIV, Israel, March 15, 2013 – DuPont[1] has joined the Office of the Chief Scientist[2] (OCS) in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor Global Enterprise R&D Cooperation Framework. Under the framework, the OCS provides a one-stop-shop to enable new opportunities for collaboration between DuPont and Israeli start-up companies. The framework also provides equal investment with DuPont in R&D projects in the areas of food, energy and protection. DuPont Senior Vice President and Chief Science & Technology Officer Douglas Muzyka[3] and DuPont Technology & Innovation Director EMEA Simone Arizzi signed an industrial R&D cooperation agreement with the OCS to join the framework. The framework members now total 24.

“DuPont has a rich tradition and reputation on innovation,” said Chief Scientist Avi Hasson. “We are very pleased to announce this cooperation agreement with the OCS, demonstrating the high innovative profile and potential to develop joint projects in the future.”

“Scientific collaboration is more important than ever as we work to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges,” said Muzyka. “The OCS provides an excellent framework to connect DuPont with new science companies in Israel. Through DuPont global science and tapping into local talent, we believe we can create new solutions for our customers worldwide.”

“Israel offers tremendous opportunities for innovation in the areas of food, energy and protection of people and the environment which are critical to DuPont,” said Arizzi, underscoring the market-driven innovation strategy of DuPont. “Joining this framework will help us to identify collaboration opportunities faster and to accelerate the pace of innovation in the markets where we operate.”

According to Hasson, the framework has become “the preferred route for many corporations for mutual R&D projects with Israeli companies.”

The Global Enterprise R&D Cooperation framework offers a unique plan for technological cooperation between Israeli companies and multinational corporations. According to the framework, the OCS assists such corporations by locating Israeli technologies that fit their needs and provides financial support to finance the R&D project. The corporations support the project in equal value – either by investing funds in the R&D and/or allocating the necessary resources and means.

In this way the corporations benefit from cutting-edge innovative technology being developed according to their specific needs and the Israeli companies benefit from the potential growth and global opportunities becoming available by partnering with the corporations.

DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit http://www.dupont.com[4].